In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, welcomes back Jim Rathmann, a former United States Secret Service agent, to discuss the shocking second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Rathmann gives insider insights into the growing threats against public figures and explains how both political rhetoric and mental illness play a role in inciting dangerous actions. Drawing from his experience as a Secret Service agent, Rathmann walks through the chilling details of the most recent attempt and emphasizes the importance of proper security measures, including more staffing and technological advancements.

Donald Trump was rushed to safety on Sept. 15th, 2024, after what the FBI termed an apparent assassination attempt at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested and charged with firearms offences. The incident comes almost exactly two months after a shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which left the Republican nominee with minor injuries and killed a man in the crowd.

Jim Rathmann is a decorated former Secret Service agent with an impressive career spanning from the gridiron to the front lines of presidential protection. Having protected numerous high-profile figures, including Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, Jim offers an unparalleled insight into the world of security and safety. 

Listeners can learn more about Jim Rathmann from IG @therealjimrathmann and on X @realjimrathmann

Listen to the Previous Episodes on First Assassination Attempt:

The Assassination Attempt of Former President Donald Trump

The Secret Service Angle: Assassination Attempt of Former President Donald Trump

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum  
• (0:10) Jim Rathmann Returns to Zone 7 to discuss the second assassination attempt of former President, Donald Trump
• (3:00) Mental illness and public figures
• (4:00) The role of celebrities in inciting violence
• (8:30) Details of the second attempt
• (12:30) Historical context - The Reagan assassination attempt
• (15:00) Security aeasures and vulnerabilities
• (18:30) The importance of adequate personnel
• (20:30) The need for toned-down rhetoric
• (26:00) Proposed changes for the Secret Service
• (28:30) Conspiracy theories and inside help
• (34:00) “There's nothing more powerful than a person with something or someone to fight for.” - J.R
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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.  

Social Links:

• Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast